VTlandrover
Adventurer
can anyone share photos/details on installing a dual battery set up in an disco 1? i have a T-max system which im going to be installing in my truck and just looking for any tips. thanks in advance.:smiley_drive:
discovery one dual battery set up.
- Thread starter VTlandrover
- Start date
94Discovery
Adventurer
I had to relocate my distributor coil mine is a 1994 and removed the bottle jack ,i already removed and built a costom waterproff air filter box connected to to a snorkel
Ray_G
Explorer
Had a painless setup on my old 98 (current D1 is just running a single battery, though it wound't be hard to wire in another).
Don't have many pics but this one shows the main aspects:
I had removed the trumpet from the front of the air intake and then blanked that off; didn't matter to me anyway since I was/am running a mantec snorkel that comes in from the side. I fab'd up a bracket to move the ps resevoir, you can see it bolted to the airbox just behind the battery.
That will give you the space to put a battery tray in. I ran the large wires from the solenoid over the top of the radiator tucked away, and then you can see how the aux battery runs back to a blue sea systems fuse block.
Fairly simply and straightforward one you make room for the battery.
r-
Ray
Don't have many pics but this one shows the main aspects:
I had removed the trumpet from the front of the air intake and then blanked that off; didn't matter to me anyway since I was/am running a mantec snorkel that comes in from the side. I fab'd up a bracket to move the ps resevoir, you can see it bolted to the airbox just behind the battery.
That will give you the space to put a battery tray in. I ran the large wires from the solenoid over the top of the radiator tucked away, and then you can see how the aux battery runs back to a blue sea systems fuse block.
Fairly simply and straightforward one you make room for the battery.
r-
Ray
Colin Hughes
Explorer
I used a Surepower 1314 which was in the engine bay. I had the second battery in the rear cargo area where a jump seat would have been. The brackets for the jump seats allowed me to securely hold it. I ran a #8 wire along the floor and pulled a ground from a bolt for the jump seats. I liked it was nice and close to my ARB fridge, etc but not in the way.
LRNAD90
Adventurer
Here is an interesting thought… Instead of using two isolated batteries, use two 6V batteries in Series, taking advantage of the Discovery's easy placement..
On the original Discoveries, when going to dual batteries, owners generally mounted with one in the factory spot, and one on the opposite side in place of the jack and wheel chock (a bracket has to be fabricated to move the power steering fluid reservoir and the intake trumpet removed from the airbox). Check out Lifeline Batteries (http://www.lifelinebatteries.com/marine.asp ) model GPL-4C. Lifelines are well respected (in commercial applications) AGM deep cycle batteries. The GPL-4C is approximately the same length and width as an Optima, but slightly less than 2.5” taller (I'm almost certain they will just clear the hood blanket), and is a 6 volt battery. By placing two in series (instead of parallel) you get a 12 volt battery with, are you ready for this, 492 minutes of reserve time (standard 25 amp draw test). That's more capacity than four Optima Yellow tops in parallel. Plenty of juice for winching, and would probably run an ARB/Engle fridge for a couple of weeks! How is that for reserve capacity?
On the original Discoveries, when going to dual batteries, owners generally mounted with one in the factory spot, and one on the opposite side in place of the jack and wheel chock (a bracket has to be fabricated to move the power steering fluid reservoir and the intake trumpet removed from the airbox). Check out Lifeline Batteries (http://www.lifelinebatteries.com/marine.asp ) model GPL-4C. Lifelines are well respected (in commercial applications) AGM deep cycle batteries. The GPL-4C is approximately the same length and width as an Optima, but slightly less than 2.5” taller (I'm almost certain they will just clear the hood blanket), and is a 6 volt battery. By placing two in series (instead of parallel) you get a 12 volt battery with, are you ready for this, 492 minutes of reserve time (standard 25 amp draw test). That's more capacity than four Optima Yellow tops in parallel. Plenty of juice for winching, and would probably run an ARB/Engle fridge for a couple of weeks! How is that for reserve capacity?
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jymmiejamz
Adventurer
Or you could avoid an overly complicated setup and just buy one large good quality battery.
LRNAD90
Adventurer
Essentially what I am saying, but you aren't going to find a single Group 31 battery with the kind of reserve capacity the two 6V in series do..
Ray_G
Explorer
This is exactly why I haven't bothered on my current truck. Except I haven't even taken the step of the large good quality battery. I put in an ok battery and then carry a microstart in case I'm dumb and leave the lights on or what have you. Oh, and when it is in the garage I plug the fridge in to 110.
jymmiejamz
Adventurer
My problem with that setup is that you have the complexities of a dual battery system but lose the ability to start the vehicle if one battery fails. The increased capacity is nice, but I think redundancy is part of the appeal of a dual battery system.
Those micro jump boxes are amazing. I have a Snap On one I keep in my truck. On of my apprentices at work has one that I borrow frequently, and it is still at 71% after 5 jump starts.
jymmiejamz
Adventurer
I am planning on putting a microstart in both of my trucks as well. Even with a dual battery setup in both. Also adding solar to the LR3. I like having plenty of power.
Makes about as much sense as carrying two spare LR3 water pumps.
DiscoDavis
Explorer
Man why get combative in almost every thread you post in? All I see is negative. If he wants to do it, fine.
LRNAD90
Adventurer
I agree you loose the redundancy factor, but not that you still have the complexities. Dual Battery system complexity is, to me, the isolator, or isolating relays, and associated control/monitoring switches/lighting. The only added complexity in running two 6V batteries vs one 12V is the physical mounting, Running a Positive Lead across the truck and rerunning the ground cable to the Driver's side. Once completed, there seems like very little additional complexity to worry about. Anyway, said me peace, just providing another option to the OP..
454
Exploder
He's in NYC. He also knows a lot about Rovers, so there's that.